President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is currently visiting the UK, where he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Zelensky took to Twitter, referring to Sunak as his “friend” and expressing his eagerness for substantive negotiations during their meeting.
The UK government recently made an announcement stating its commitment to providing Ukraine with the long-range missiles requested to counter the Russian invasion. Zelensky’s visit is part of his ongoing efforts to garner increased support for Ukraine from Western leaders.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Sunak emphasized that their discussions would revolve around exploring additional avenues to support Zelensky and Ukraine. Notably, Zelensky holds the distinction of being the first foreign dignitary to meet Sunak at Chequers, the prime minister’s official country residence.
Prior to the meeting, President Zelensky took a moment during a brief press conference to express heartfelt gratitude to the UK for its unwavering support since the invasion.
“We are thankful, from the bottom of our hearts, on behalf of Ukrainians and our soldiers. We are thankful,” he emphasized. Zelensky further highlighted that urgent support for Ukraine would be a key focus of their discussions.
While government officials have characterized the visit as a courtesy meeting and an opportunity to catch up, they also acknowledged that there are important matters to address.
Downing Street has confirmed that the UK will be providing “hundreds” of air defense missiles and drones to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Prime Minister Sunak, in his meeting with President Zelensky, will emphasize the importance of delivering a comprehensive support package to Ukraine, stating, “We must not let them down.”
The prime minister stressed that this is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s war effort and highlighted that Putin’s aggressive actions have global implications. He emphasized the need to ensure Ukraine’s success and prevent rewarding such aggression.
The meeting between the two leaders is expected to be relatively short, lasting only a couple of hours. President Zelensky’s visit to the UK is part of his European tour, which also included meetings in Paris, Berlin, and Rome.
In related news, following productive discussions with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Ukraine has secured a significant defense aid package worth €2.7bn (£2.4bn) from Germany.
President Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the provision of German Leopard tanks and anti-aircraft systems, describing it as the largest aid tranche since Russia’s full-scale aggression began in February 2022.